Catamenial sack.



PATENTED JULY 12, 1904.

T. I. GRIFFITH.

`CATAMBNIAL SACK.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 2, 1903.

NO KODEL.

Ill n UNITED STATES Patented July 12, 1904.

THOMAS ISLEY GRIFFITH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CATAIVIENIAL SACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,074, [lated July 12, 1904.

Application filed April 2, 1903. Serial No. 150,807. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS IsLEY GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Oatamenial Sacks, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein' to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates t0 certain new and useful improvements in catamenial sacks designed to be worn by women during the period of menstruation; and one of the main objects of my invention is the construction of a device of this nature which may be worn without any discomfort to the wearer and which is provided with means for holding an absorbent to receive and retain the discharge from the cavity or vagina, the holding means for the absorbent being so constructed as to permit its ready and easy detachment, whereby 'as will lbe hereinafter more specifically described and then particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

In describing the invention indetail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and wherein like numerals of reference will be employed for designating like parts throughout the different views of the drawings, in which* Figure l is a detail perspective view of my improved supporter, showing the belt partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view with the belt removed and the absorbent holder partly broken away.

A very desirable feature in connection with devices of this'character has been to provide a support or sack which may be worn without galling the wearer or be bulky, so as to cause discomfort. One of the essential features in my construction is the holder for the absorbent material, which holder I form of suitable netting, the mesh of which may be of any desired size, and in order to decrease the bulk of this holder to as great an extent as possible I preferably construct the same of silk or of other material which will not give discomfort to the wearer. Another desideratuin in the construction of such devices is to have the same adjusted neatly to the body.

I/V ith the construction of my improved device I Inay apply the belt direct to the body underneath the corset or other garments, and as the holding-mesh is adjustably connected to the belt both at the front and at the rear, it may be readily adjusted to any desired position.

In carrying out my invention I provide an elongated piece of webbing I, preferably composed of silk, though cotton or other material may be employed. A silk webbing is, however, preferable, as its smooth texture affords more comfort to the wearer than a coarser fabric. This webbing is of a suflicient width to hold therein a quantity of absorbent material, such as medicated cotton or the like, that is held bylmcans of the webbing in close contact with the vagina, whereby to receive the discharge. This holding-web is adapted to pass between the limbs of the wearer, and at the rear it is attached to a iexible cross-bar 2, and its forward end is connected to aflexible fastening-bar 3. In the present illustration I show this fasteningbar 3 provided with socket members 4 for engagement with buttons or headed studs 5, carried by a flexible cross-piece 6. It will of course be evident that equivalent fastening means to that herein shown and described maybe employed without departing from the spirit of the invention in this particular, the principle being to provide means whereby the holding-web maybe readily fastened and unfastened at the front. The iiexible bar `6 has straps 7 attached thereto to form loops which carry rings or eyes 8, that receive the adjustable IOO straps 9, one end ofpwhich is attached to the front member 10 of the belt and the other ends of which are attached to the adjustingbuckles 11. By the employment of this form of buckles, which are of open-link form with a central cross-bar, it will be observed that the straps 9 may be shortened or lengthened as may be desired by the wearer. The front member 10 of the belt is provided near each end with an opening, and through these openings are passed the belt-straps l2, one end of which is attached tov the rear member 14 of the belt and the other ends of which are adapted to be tied together at the back, as shown.

1t will of course be evident that this construction could be reversed without departing from the principle of securing' the device-that is, the rear member 14 could have the openings to receive the belt-straps, with the other ends of the said straps attached permanently to the front member 10, and thus permit of the tying of the ends in front instead of in the rear. The employment of these belt-straps of such length as to permit their being returned around the waist and tied enables me to securely fasten the device without the use of any buckles, which would be liable to cause inconvenience to the wearer. The rear flexible cross-bar 2 also has loops 15 connected thereto, which carry eyes or rings 16 to receive the adjusting-straps 17, one end of which is attached to the rear member la and the other end of which is connected to the adjusting-buckles 1 8, whereby the device may also be adjusted at the rear as well as at the front.

The employment of a webbing for the holding means enables me to hold the absorbent material in proper position without producing any bulk between the limbs of the wearer which would cause inconvenience. When the absorbent material becomes impregnated, it may readily be removed and another supply placed in position by simply unfastening the webbing at the front. This holder being made of webbing also enables meto hold the absorbent material more securely, as said material will project into the mesh of the webbing, and thereby be prevented from displacement.

While I have herein shown and described the invention in detail as it is practiced, yet

lit will be evident that various changes may Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to securebyLettei-s Patent, is-

l. In a device of the character described the combination with a belt adjustable to different sizes, rigid front and rear members connected by said belt, vertical adjustable supporting means mounted on said front and rear members, a iiexible member carried by said rear members, a flexible fastening member carried by the forward members provided with sockets therein, a second flexible member having means thereon adapted to engage in said socket, and an open-mesh web secured to said rear member and detachably secured between the front fiexible members, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a belt of rigid rear and front members connected thereby, vertical adjustable supporting means secured to said last-named members, fiexible means carried thereby and an open-mesh web permanently secured Vto one of said flexible members and detachably secured to the other thereof, substantially as described.

3. A device of the type set forth comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed rigid supporting members of an arch shape to conform to the body of the wearer, a pair of independently-mounted supporting means secured adjacent the extremities of each of said members, a flexible fasteningmember horizontally disposed and connected to the ends of each bear of said supporting members, and a web rigidly secured to one of said fastening-members and detachably secured to the other fastening member, and a belt secured to the ends of each of said rigid supporting members.

4. A device of the type set forth comprising a -pair of oppositely-disposed rigid forward and rear members, a fastening member adjustably secured by its ends to each of said rigid members, a web rigidly secured to one of the last-named members, and detachably secured to the other thereof, and a belt secured intermediate itsends to each of said rigid members, for adjusting the same about the body of the wearer.

1n testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THUMAS lSLEY GRIFFITH.

Witnesses:

A. M. WILsoN, H. H. HOPKINS.

IOO 

